Making Christmas stockings for your kids is a snap with these easy-to-follow instructions from Mary Dobson.
Christmas Stockings
Materials required:
Wide-width felt
Small felt squares in various colours
Heat n Bond fusible web sheets
Iron
Sewing machine
Scissors
Marking pen
Various trims and buttons
Steps:
Trace and cut two layers of felt to the size and shape of stocking you like.
Plan the layout of your pattern on the front layer of the stocking.
There are several methods for applying the pattern pieces to the stocking. Always be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the fusible web and test the felt for its melting point and use a press cloth if necessary. One option is to trace the entire shape you want onto the paper side of the Heat n Bond and cut into sections, then fuse to the felt and cut around the shape again before fusing each section to the stocking. Another is to fuse a section of the Heat n Bond to a section of felt, draw the base shape and cut out and fuse
Take the details that you want in another colour and use the paper layer that was discarded after fusing to trace, cut and fuse over the base shape. In both these methods be careful to remember that the result will be a mirror image of what you draw. A third option is to fuse the paper backed web to the felt, draw the image on the front of the web with a disappearing ink marker, cut an fuse.
Set your sewing machine to a medium or wide width satin stitch and outline each fused piece.
Place the two layers of stocking right sides together and stitch around the edges, leaving the top open.
Clip the seams at the curves and flip right side out. Alternately, you can place the two layers wrong sides together and stitch together using a decorative hand or machine stitch.
suzanne.ellis@cityline.rogers.com